A visit to the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum

Have you visited the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum recently? Often ranked as the nation’s best arboretum, it’s the University of Minnesota’s horticultural and landscape site with over 1,200 acres of gardens, wetlands, woods, orchards, and more. Whether you’re a gardener, a landscaper, or simply a nature-lover, there’s something for you all year round at this unique attraction.

When Jen (Volunteer Manager) and Sharon (Community Center Specialist) asked Vision Loss Resources clients if they had ever been to the Arboretum, they said: “No, but we’ve always wanted to!” One barrier is that it’s located in Chanhassen, which is outside of the service range of Metro Mobility transportation. In order to bring our clients to the Arboretum, we’d have to secure the funds to rent private transportation. That’s where our generous supporters came in.

One of our star volunteers secured a matching gift from her employer, 3M. With that gift, we rented a coach bus to take clients to the Arboretum. We also needed plenty of additional volunteers to assist clients on the paths and to describe the scenery. Fortunately, fabulous volunteers from UnitedHealthcare and van Wagenen joined us and made the day fully accessible and fun.

After arriving at the Welcome Center, we enjoyed a tram ride along the three-mile drive. Our tour guide’s narration included vivid descriptions and fascinating horticultural details. It was a gorgeous autumnal day to remember. Thank you to the volunteers and donors who made it possible.